Horse-weight



(No Model.)

M. S. ONEIL.

HORSE WEIGHT.

No. 494,159. (gratented Mar. 28, 1893;.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL SAMUEL ONEIL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.HORSE-WEIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 494,159, dated March28, 1893.

' Application tiled December 18, 1891. Serial No. 415,488. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL SAMUEL ONEIL,of Chicago,Cookcounty,Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im provements inHorse-IVeights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a hollow horse-weight withinwhich the hitching strap automatically winds when released, and whichalways keeps the strap taut when attached to the horse, so as to preventthe horse stepping thereon and getting tangled up in the same. Thishorse-Weight is more particularly to be considered as an improvementupon the subject-matter of the applicationfor Letters Patent of theUnited States led by me July 3, 1891, Serial No. 398,360, whereby theconstruction of thesame is greatly improved and simplified, and a morepractical horse-weight produced substantially as hereinafter fullydescribed, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which:-

Figure I is a transverse vertical section through myimprovedhorse-weight. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base plate thereof.Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the coverlooking at the interior of thesame. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drum upon which the hitching strap isWound looking at it from underneath, and, Fig. 5 is a plan view of saiddrum looking at it from above.

In the drawings A represents a base-plate, and B represents an invertedbowl-shaped cover. This cover is provided with a suitable bail or handlea, and its annular edges are of such diameter as to correspond with thediameter ot the base plate and rest upon the marginal edges thereof. Insaid annular edges is one or Inore recesses b, into which the lugs carising from the base plate with reference thereto enter so that whensaid base-plate and the cover are locked together, neither saidbase-plate or cover will have an independent motion. I secure saidbase-plate and cover together by means of an inclined bolt C, the upperend or square head of which can be inserted into a suitable socket Kmade therefor in a boss d located, as shown, in the angle made by themeeting of the side and top of the cover. The4 lower screw-threaded endof this bolt C passes throughv a suitable opening o made in the inclinedside of the mound -m arising from the base-plate, and has a nut n on theunderside of the same, which is sheltered in the depression caused bythe making of said mound, and which, when tightened securely holds saidbase-plate and cover together.

The socket K in theboss d, into which thek head of the bolt C enters, ismade by making a transverse rectangular chamber in said boss of the sameWidth as said bolt head and about twice as long. The bolt head isinserted into said chamber through an opening which is the obverse ofthe surface dimensions of said head, and then said bolt is movedlaterally into a slot leading from said opening so that its head catchesand is prevented from being withdrawn by the shoulders t. The manner ot'placing this bolt prevents the exposure of either of its ends, andprevents extraneous objects getting caught thereon. Journaled on thecylindrical barrel of this bolt is adruin E, which is provided with aiiange on its upper side, and is provided With-a longitudinal opening rtherein, through which the looped end of the hitching strap e may bepassed so as to surround the boss of said drum substantially as shown inFig. 4. After having its inner end secured on the boss of said drum thehitching strap is passed through the openin'g in the same and is woundaround and upon the sanne, and has its outer end passed through theopening F in the cover, which is located opposite boss d at the angle ofsaid cover so that as said strap is paid out or wound within saidhorse-weight the plane of the strap will be parallel to the plane of therevolution of the drum and in alignment therewith. r

In order to cause the hitching strap to automatically rewind upon thedrum, when pulled out of the horse-Weight and then released, I securethe inner end of a spiral spring G to the bolt above the drum, andsecure the outer end thereof directly to said. drum or to a stud or apin arising therefrom. The outer end of the bitching strap is generallyprovided with a snap-hook, or with some other enlargement,

IOO

which prevents it from passing through the opening F, in the cover;thus, when the strap is wound upon the drum with the outer end thereofbearing against the Side of the opening F, and with the Spring Gtightened, if the strap is pulled outward and then released, theexpansion of the spring causes the drum to revolve so as to rewind thestrap thereon.

As the fianges of the drum are not of sufficient length to bear againstthe upper surfaces of the base-plate, and as it is desirable that thereshould be no lateral movement thereof I provide the base with one ormore lugs g, g, which are placed an equal distance on either side oflthe vertical plane of the bolt, and are of such height that theyprevent the lateral movement and serve as a guard to prevent the strapfrom slipping downward oif the drum and getting tangled within thehorse-weight.

By the construction of the horse-weight as thus Vdescribed I greatlyreduce the cost of manufacturing thehorse-weightto a minimum while, atthe same time, simplifying and perfecting its operation.

What I claim as new is- The combination with a base-plate and having amound arising therefrom having an opening therein, and an invertedbowl-shaped cover having a boss in its upper part with a suitable sockettherein, of a bolt having its head secured within said socket and itslower screw-threaded end extending through the opening in said mound inthe base, a nut on the lower end thereof, the drum journaled on saidbolt, a hitehing strap wound thereon and having its outer end passingthrough an opening in said cover, and a spring for automaticallyreturning said drum to its original position so as to rewind said strap,as set forth.

MICHAEL SAMUEL ONEIL.

Witnesses:

TIMOTHY STEBBINS, FRANK D. THoMAsoN.

